Lotus Sim - L-39 Albatros

The Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros is the most popular and successful single
engine jet trainer of all time. Designed and built in Czechoslovakia during the
cold war, the L-39 was developed to train pilots transitioning from simple
propeller driven aircraft to front line Soviet fighters. Over 4000 examples were
produced, serving with over 25 air forces around the world, and although
production ceased in 1988 some 900 are still in service today. The jet was built
to be extremely agile, durable, self sufficient, and tolerant of student pilot
error. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in the 1990s several hundred
examples found their way into private hands and are now regular attractions at
airshows of all sizes. The jet is also popular with formation teams, serving
with the world famous Breitling Jet Team and Vjazma Rus Aero Club, and even has
its own competition class at the Reno Air Races.

This Lotus Simulations rendition of the L-39C Albatros bucks the trend in
framerate sapping aircraft models by careful and considered design of geometry,
textures, and code from the start. Built from the ground up for Shared Cockpit
online training and multiplayer formation flight, as well as normal single
player use, this aircraft is designed to maintain high framerate performance in
all flight situations.

The Albatros features fully detailed virtual cockpits, in both dual and
single seat versions, as well as a Reno racing variant and a special stripped
down and ultra high performance model for those who participate in online
formation flight teams. All of the L-39's instruments are rendered in full 3D
for smooth and stutter free flight, and all of the plane's unique performance
and handling quirks have been recreated, making this aircraft perfect for pilots
who seek a challenging "stick and rudder" flight experience.

The Albatros features extensive and in depth systems modeling, including some
with potentially hazardous consequences, and several unique and immersion
enhancing special effects that have never before been seen in Flight Simulator
X. Prime examples of these innovations are its revolutionary new light systems,
and the return of VC canopy rain effects to FSX at last, something which was
generally thought impossible.

Being built specifically to accomodate Shared Cockpit flight, all of the real
L-39's rear cockpit instrument failure simulation systems have been replicated
as well, allowing instructors to train students online in partial panel IFR
flight or the handling of systems failures.

The flight dynamics and performance have been derived from personal developer
experience flying a real L-39C and with extensive further input and testing by
private L-39 owners.

The L-39's brilliant sound set has been provided by Turbine Sound Studios and
almost every switch and system in the cockpit has associated sound effects for
that extra layer of immersion.

In addition several models are pre-configured to accept Reality XP's
excellent GNS430 GPS unit in the virtual cockpit.

* Fully aerobatic and capable of stable spins and sideslips
* Realistic and sensitive response to AoA and load factor, a challenge to fly at
the limits
* Performance based on personal developer flight time in a real L-39C and with
extensive further testing by L-39 owners

Cockpit:

* Extremely detailed and complete Dual and Single cockpit variants provided,
suitable for Shared Cockpit, formation, or solo flight
* Military and Civilian (no gunsight) cockpit variations included
* Projected and collimated electro-optical gunsight reticule in military
variants
* High resolution and realistically shaded cockpit textures
* Cockpit textures are "zero load time". After intial aircraft load, they are
always present when you return to the VC, no waiting.
* Extremely Track-ir friendly. No holes or missing parts visible from anywhere
in the cockpits, even with very aggressive Track-ir use.
* Unique and extremely effective new landing light system, which actually
properly illuminates the ground (and other objects from the VC), a first for a
Flight Simulator aircraft. These landing lights adapt smoothly to the time of
day.
* Illuminated raindrops in front of the landing light bulbs in poor weather
* Animated virtual cockpit canopy rain effects, another first for a true FSX
native aircraft
* Full 3D gauges throughout, including all of the behavioral quirks of their
real life counterparts
* Gauges are all original Russian equipment and use the metric system (except
altimeter)
* Stunning cockpit night lighting with adaptive red and white instrument
lighting selections and independent controls for front and rear cockpits
* Progressive canopy icing effects
* Specular scratch effects on canopies in the sun
* Animated extensible instrument flight training hood for front cockpit
* Ability to hide control columns from view for IFR flight
* Realistic ground roll, G-load and stall buffet effects

* All primary sounds recorded from a real L-39C and produced by award winning
Turbine Sound Studios.
* Full 3D spatial sound effects
* AI sound set included for enhanced aircraft sounds in multiplayer and AI
traffic use
* Dozens of cockpit sound effects for almost all switches, controls, and
systems, including cockpit G-suit pump.

Documentation:

* An extremely thorough and well illustrated 122 page operations manual is
included (PDF format).

Extras:

* Tutorial videos and paint kit are also available at the Lotus Simulations
website